The construction industry is a prime example of diversity at its best. A typical team is made up of hard workers from various cultures and ethnicities banded together with the goal of completing a project successfully.
However, this diverse grouping comes with an obstacle: communicating with each other. And in a field as inherently treacherous as construction, proper and timely communication can be a life-or-death thing.
How can your team improve its current information and knowledge-sharing methods? These four best practices offer the latest tried-and-true ways to boost communication on and off the construction site.
1. Develop a Strong Workflow
Processes are crucial in any successful industry. Yet, when it comes to communicating on the worksite, you often have lots of people assuming leadership roles with confusion about who is actually in charge.
This ambiguity leads to dissent, which becomes expensive delays and mistakes. To eliminate the problem, start with your workflow. What’s your communication process, and who is in charge of which areas of concern?
Starting from the beginning of every project, ensure you’ve developed a chain of command that each worker will follow. Designate individuals as those in charge of receiving and sharing information with others, those tasked with holding others accountable, and the downward chain from each. Include the crew and everyone involved in the project, such as the owners and contractors.
When members know who to listen to as far as receiving the most updated information and whom they can turn to for help solving issues, you reduce much of the unnecessary conflict.
2. Set Expectations for On and Off the Job Site
Your team will be working together for extended periods. It’s up to you to decide whether they’ll live in off-site lodging or on-site man camps. Each one has its pros and cons, as discussed in this article by Hotel Engine. But no matter where your workers are, you must establish expectations for their behavior and communication.
Industries as high-stress and -pressure as construction require seamless trust between each crew member. Off-site disagreements and disrespect bleed onto the field and can impact your project’s success and your crew members’ safety.
Include a section in your employee handbook that regulates off-duty misconduct. Talk to your legal advisor as to what the rights of your industry and state include. Common off-work policies often cover anti-harassment regulations and punishments, as well as anything that can harm the interest of the business or company’s reputation. If any outside behaviors result in criminal activity or other consequences that disqualify the employee from their job, it should be included.
This section of the handbook must be widely shared with each individual so they know their obligations and their rights. If someone feels harassed, they should know who to communicate their concerns with.
3. Implement Company-Wide Communication Methods
How do you currently communicate with your team? Sharing the company’s fundamental communication protocols lets your members know where they can expect to get updates and reduces confusion.
Additionally, your methods should be available to everyone, regardless of their tech knowledge, internet access, or language barrier. If you pass messages on in English, verify that non-English speakers or readers have a system in place to translate the information without needing to ask for help.
Another thing to consider is the reality that construction sites are often loud. If someone is in danger, they may not hear shouts of warning. Determine company-wide signals to share urgent or important information quickly without verbal cues. Many construction leaders teach their crews basic sign language for this reason.
4. Bring in Non-Wired Technology
Job sites for construction projects are often in the middle of nowhere. How will your crew communicate with outside members if there is no cell signal or WiFi?
Plan your foundational communication policies so that they’ll work during a power shutdown. Losing a cell signal or not having a phone shouldn’t cause more than a slight delay and should never affect the workers’ safety.
Satellite phones are an excellent solution. Ensure at least one of your crew members has this device on them at all times and that it’s consistently charged. You can add other safety measures to your communication strategies, but a satellite phone should be non-negotiable.
Conclusion
For many people, communication is a way to socialize and bolster their mental health. On a construction site, communication is essential to each person’s safety and the project’s overall success. Use these four best practices to ensure everyone on your team knows who to talk to, how to communicate, and where to go when danger strikes.